Here are my thoughts on yesterday’s Sunland-Tujunga forum with CD2 candidates Krekorian and Essel.
As a late radio commentator once uttered: “You’ve heard the news. Now it’s time for the rest of the story.”
The first heated exchange involved the Fuentes-Krekorian connection. Chris attempted to tie Paul to Fuentes’ pro development views. It was more guilt by association rather than substance. It is very easy to connect anyone with anything in our world of six degrees of separation.
The charge was lame. However, Krekorian left himself open to the attack when he failed to distance himself from Fuentes during the primary. As you recall, Fuentes provided Paul with unsolicited support in the form of an advertisement praising him for his work in the Assembly.
I believe it was Kevin James of KRLA that questioned Paul about the support and whether it was appropriate under campaign contribution rules. Paul’s answer was lukewarm. He claimed that Fuentes was just showing appreciation for his good work, or something along those lines. Paul could have batted the question out of the ballpark by saying he was surprised by it and the timing.
It was a case of Krekorian wanting to have and eat his cake (I really hate that expression, but it is appropriate in this case).
There are times when you need to tell a colleague, “thanks, but no thanks.”
Krekorian should have done so when he got wind of Fuentes’ offer. It is doubful if the ad did much good for Paul’s campaign. If anything, it may have caused him an unnecessary headache.
Lacking even less substance was Essel’s attempt at connecting Krekorian with a bizarre plot by the insurance industry to require the installation of GPS technology in all vehicles as a means of monitoring use. Chris referenced AB2208 as the source; the bill designation was incorrect. The actual bill was AB2800 and the GPS reference was removed from the final version. GPS was never intended as a requirement for motorists. It only permitted insurers to request installation of the device. A dumb idea, but a moot point in the end.
My thanks to Joe Barrett for researching the bill. He runs the CD2 Blogspot.
Paul did not do himself a favor with his reply to the GPS Conspiracy Theory. He started off alright by looking straight at Chris and saying in so many words he had no idea what she was talking about.
Paul should have left it at that and challenged Chris to provide the source. It was apparent that she was unsure of the bill’s designation –not a good debate strategy to cite an uncertain reference. It indicated poor preparation on Chris’ part and deficient research by her staff.
Instead, he claimed to have been involved with around 6,000 bills in his three years as an Assembly Member, mentioning that it was difficult to recall the details of many of them.
Chris jumped on that with an icy but effective response: “You should read the bills you sign.”
I think Paul lost a good opportunity to score a solid knockdown by trying to be clever. It was similar to missing the PAT after a touchdown (a very relevant comparison for me today since that very thing cost my Richmond Spiders an important game on Saturday).
The carpetbagger issue came back from the grave. It was more along the lines of who carried the bigger bag.
What comes to mind was Robert Duval’s line when he played Tom Hegan in the Godfather: “The Godfather is a man who likes to hear bad news immediately.”
Politicians should chisel that saying in their memories.
You don’t beat around the bush when delivering unpopular news to the voters. It just makes the process more painful as your audience watches you wriggle like a worm on a hook. There is no escape, so get it over with quickly and move on.
I remember Wendy Greuel turning beet red when she attempted to evade a question about why she did not disclose her IBEW connections when she voted to approve Measure B for the ballot. It was at a VANC candidate forum. Jill Banks Barad had to follow up three times to drag an answer from her.
The setting and situation were similar on Saturday.
Paul Krekorian’s question to Essel regarding her involvement in CD2 was effective as a simultaneous offensive and defensive move –the type that leads to checkmate in a game of chess. You protect your king while threatening your opponent’s.
Paul came right out and said he already represented about one-third of the District through his work in the Assembly. Basically, he diffused and deflected any criticism that could be launched at him regarding the carpetbagger issue by admitting he was not omnipresent in CD2. At the same time, his question put the ball in Essel’s court.
She could only play defense at that point. Trapped in a corner she looked for passing lanes; none were available. Every second that elapsed made her look more helpless.
That’s what happens when you attempt to tap dance around the obvious.
Essel mentioned how she had worked to create jobs for the entire Valley while at Paramount and through her volunteer work, never once addressing her absence from CD2 prior to running for Council.
Paul followed up in no uncertain terms: “So you’ve never worked for CD2? I didn’t hear you mention any CD2 accomplishments.”
Chris’ reply was both petulant and unsubstantiated. She simply said, “Wrong.”
Had I been Chris, I would have admitted the obvious at the start of the reply and then launched into the work she did to create jobs. The impact would have been neutral.
Both candidates disappointed me on their answers regarding the compensation structure that is strangling the city’s budget. It is not as if they did not make an honest attempt to answer a difficult question, but their answers do not give me confidence in their resolve to tackle the problem.
What it comes down to is this: with 80% of the general fund going towards employee compensation, how on earth are we going to manage the budget in hard times unless the City Council can exercise discretion in granting or denying wage increases? The Council is left with limitedoptions: staff reductions and/or furloughs. The end result is a reduction in service.
Sure, there is always waste that can be eliminated, but anyone who thinks we can plug a projected deficit estimated at $500 million for next year through efficiencies is smoking some serious medical marijuana. Better call Tru’s office and report it.
Essel’s solution is pure blue sky. She wants to close the gap by expanding business.
Who doesn’t?
I think Paul Krekorian would agree with her approach.
But there is nothing positive on the horizon that would support Essel’s vision. While desirable, it is not a strategy you can employ in this economic climate. The world has changed and no one knows what the long term ramifications are.
Not to mention, neither the City Council nor the State Legislature are capable of making reasonable short term forecasts.
You have to work with what you can control.
To Paul’s credit, he recognizes this, but I have to wonder about his commitment.
He said, when it comes to restructuring compensation, he prefers “collaboration to obstruction.”
A wise and sensible statement.
However, we cannot depend on municipal unions to initiate collaboration. They have not shown a tendency towards that.
Please do not tell me that ERIP was collaboration. The Coalition of City Unions made no concessions; wage increases were deferred for two years, not eliminated. Early retirees will reap handsome bonuses and burden an already beleaguered pension system.
What Paul and Chris have to commit to is building a strong united front among the City Council in order to approach the unions and negotiate significant concessions, including wage freezes and increased employee contribution rates to benefit plans. This also applies to the DWP’s IBEW, whose contract comes up next year -won’t that be fun.
I am not expecting either candidate to lock themselves into a target, just a commitment to pursue an objective that allows the City Council to take decisive cost cutting actions in times of economic duress. To do that entails renegotiation of existing labor contracts.
The alternative is bankruptcy.
If you were a Council Member, how would you like to be remembered? As someone who led us down the path of financial ruin, or someone who inspired all parties to make painful but sensible decisions?
Sometimes we are too deferential to our elected officials and forget that they work for us. They need frank feedback, even if it hurts. I do not mince words; I hope the candidates understand.
We all have a boss somewhere in our lives and have to live up to expectations, but we are the boss when it comes to governance and need to hold our current or prospective officials accountable.
We also need straight answers.
There are more forums to come; let’s continue to press both of them. Sunland-Tujunga was a good start.
Although Krekorian won this round, the race is far from over. I’ll analyze it later this week, especially the potential impact of Essel’s new endorsements.
Not unlike our President, Paul K. enjoys a professional and polished speaking delivery. Each time he opened his mouth it sounded like he was saying something profound. For that reason, I began listening more closely and only then realized that he was speaking in generalities.
Chris E. was pushed against a wall a couple of times in tit for tat, but on the whole I felt that she gave us some insight into what she hopes to achieve.
Although a charming man, I had the distinct impression that Mr. Krekorian would have no difficulty in raising his hand at Council in the name of expediecy or popularity. I sensed, on that other hand, that Chris E. really hopes to do some good in the district. ????????????
Royan Herman
Enjoyed your analysis, Mr. Hatfield, however you did omit one key moment that sadly, proves BOTH candidates are far removed from the perpetual aggrevations the average CD2 taxpayer is forced to endure. When NC member John Blue asked them what steps they would take to stem the expensive tide of illegal immigration, the candidates shrugged and coughed up the old “it’s a federal issue” buck pass. Mr. Blue then brought up everyone’s favorite hot potato, Special Order 40, and once more the carpetbagging culprits towed the liberal, sanctuary city line, citing former Chief Bratton idiocy thereby letting us all know that we can rest assured, neither Essel nor Kerkorian’s about to rain on the parade of that above-the-law-privileged class, the illegal aliens.
My reply: I’m glad you covered this. I was packing up to leave for another engagement when the topic came up. I am not surprised that the candidates backed the official city view.
Special Order 40 or not, if a suspect is picked up and proves to be here illegally, ICE should be notified. No ands, ifs or buts. I realize the police do not have the resources to initiate investigations of illegal entry to the country, and never will.
That said, the City Council should pass a resolution that eliminates the Sanctuary City designation. It really won’t change how the police do their job or greatly affect the number of arrests, but it would at least send a message and perhaps make people think twice.
I’m not holding my breath. -Paul Hatfield